Mourning, then cheers as sports return to Boston

A young Bruins fan is screened on his way into the TD Garden on Wednesday in Boston. The game against Buffalo was the first major sporting event in the city since Monday's bombings.

Photo: Elise Amendola / Associated Press

BOSTON — Emerging from a moment of silence with a deafening cheer, fans at Wednesday night's Bruins game paid tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing with a stirring national anthem and a thunderous chant of “U.S.A.!”

The sold-out crowd at the first major sporting event in the city since Monday's attack lined up for metal-detecting wands and random car inspections to get into the TD Garden. Once inside, they watched a somber video with scenes from the race, ending with the words, “We are Boston, We are Strong.”

The players standing on the ice for the opening faceoff against the Buffalo Sabres banged their sticks in the traditional hockey salute, drifting back off the blue lines so that they, too, could see the video. The Boston Fire Department Honor Guard brought out the U.S. flag to honor the first responders who rushed to the aid of the three killed and more than 170 injured by the twin bombs at the marathon's finish line.

Longtime Boston Garden troubadour Rene Rancourt took his place for the “Star-Spangled Banner.” But he sang only the first few lines, allowing the crowd to carry the tune while he pumped his fist to keep time.

It was an emotional return to normal life for the city, which has been dazed by the attacks on one of its signature and most beloved events. Monday's scheduled Bruins game against Ottawa was rescheduled, and Tuesday night's Celtics game was canceled outright.

But the Bruins said they were determined to help the city move on.

“You're trying to live your life in peace, and there's people trying to disrupt that,” coach Claude Julien said after a morning skate. “The people trying to live their life in peace are going to stick together.”

Players on both teams wore “Boston Strong” decals on their helmets, and the Garden was illuminated in blue and yellow, the colors of the Boston Athletic Association.

Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs pledged $100,000 to The One Fund Boston, the charity established to help families affected by the bombing; the Garden, the NHL and the players association pledged $50,000 each.

Bruins players and staff collected 80 tickets to the game to donate to the first responders. Forward Brad Marchand raffled off his own suite for the team's first playoff game, with the proceeds to go to the family of 8-year-old Martin Richards, who died in the blast.

“I'm sure tonight will be full of emotion,” forward Chris Kelly said Wednesday morning before the Bruins' 3-2 shootout loss. “If we can go play hard to help the city of Boston in any way we can, I know everybody in this locker room would be willing to do that. We love the city. We want to help in any way we can — if we can give them 10 minutes of joy, or 20 hours of joy — anything we can do.”

Despite the loss, Boston sent the fans home happy by earning a playoff spot. They gained the clinching point in the standings by not losing the game in regulation.